Gaming system and a method of gaming

ABSTRACT

A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a display, a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display at a plurality of display positions on the display, and a display modifier arranged to modify the displayed symbols such that after modification of the symbols the locations of the symbols in the display positions are a mirror image of the locations of the symbols before modification of the symbols. The gaming system also comprises an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether symbol combinations defined by the displayed symbols after modification correspond to one or more winning outcomes. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority as a continuationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/328,420, filed on Dec. 4, 2008,entitled “A GAMING SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF GAMING”, and to AustralianProvisional Patent Application No. 2007906650, filed on Dec. 5, 2007,entitled “A GAMING SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF GAMING”, each of which isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gaming system and to a method ofgaming.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a gaming system which comprises a game controllerarranged to randomly display several symbols from a predetermined set ofsymbols and to determine a game outcome such as a game win based on thedisplayed symbols. Such gaming systems may commonly be implemented as astepper machine provided with reels with each reel carrying severalsymbols of the set, or a video machine wherein selected symbols aredisplayed on virtual reels on a graphical display device.

However, while such gaming systems provide users with enjoyment, a needexists for alternative gaming systems in order to maintain or increaseplayer enjoyment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a gaming system including:

a display;

a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for displayat a plurality of display positions on the display;

a display modifier arranged to modify the displayed symbols such thatafter modification of the symbols the locations of the symbols are amirror image of the locations of the symbols before modification of thesymbols; and

an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether symbol combinationsdefined by the displayed symbols after modification correspond to one ormore winning outcomes.

In one embodiment, the gaming system includes a prize allocator arrangedto allocate a prize to a player when a symbol combination corresponds toa winning outcome.

In one embodiment, the outcome evaluator is arranged to determinewhether symbol combinations defined by the displayed symbols correspondto one or more winning outcomes by reference to a predefined player winentitlement, for example whether the player has purchased one or morewin lines, has purchased particular reels, or has purchase particularsymbols.

In one embodiment, the display modifier is arranged to modify thedisplayed symbols such that after modification of the symbols thelocations of the symbols are a mirror image of the locations of thesymbols before modification of the symbols about a line extendingvertically or horizontally of the displayed symbols.

The display modifier may be arranged to modify the displayed symbolssuch that after modification the symbols are inverted, for example suchthat the symbols are shown laterally inverted or upside down.

In one embodiment, the outcome evaluator is arranged to determinewhether symbol combinations defined by the displayed symbols correspondto one or more winning outcomes both before and after modification ofthe displayed symbols, and the prize allocator is arranged to allocate aprize to a player when a symbol combination corresponds to a winningoutcome before and/or after modification of the symbols.

At least one set of symbols may include at least one function symbolhaving an associated function which may be a wild function, a scatterfunction, a multiplier function, a repeat win function or a jackpotfunction.

In one embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to operate in normalgame mode and special game mode, and the display modifier is arranged tomodify the displayed symbols only when the gaming system operates inspecial game mode.

The gaming system may be arranged to commence special game mode when apredetermined game outcome occurs, on the basis of a game eventoccurring during a game such as display of a particular symbol, inresponse to player input, based on the amount or type of bet placed,when a special game is purchased by a player, based on a gaming machineevent or other gaming system event.

The gaming system may be implemented as a stand alone gaming machine oracross a network.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of gaming including:

selecting a plurality of symbols for display at a plurality of displaypositions;

modifying the displayed symbols such that after modification of thesymbols the locations of the symbols are a mirror image of the locationsof the symbols before modification of the symbols; and

determining whether symbol combinations defined by the displayed symbolsafter modification correspond to one or more winning outcomes.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a computer program arranged when loaded into a computer toinstruct the computer to operate in accordance with a gaming systemincluding:

-   -   a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for        display at a plurality of display positions on the display;

a display modifier arranged to modify the displayed symbols such thatafter modification of the symbols the locations of the symbols are amirror image of the locations of the symbols before modification of thesymbols; and

an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether symbol combinationsdefined by the displayed symbols after modification correspond to one ormore winning outcomes.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a computer readable medium having computer readable programcode embodied therein for causing a computer to operate in accordancewith a gaming system including:

-   -   a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for        display at a plurality of display positions on the display;

a display modifier arranged to modify the displayed symbols such thatafter modification of the symbols the locations of the symbols are amirror image of the locations of the symbols before modification of thesymbols; and

an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether symbol combinationsdefined by the displayed symbols after modification correspond to one ormore winning outcomes.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a data signal having computer readable program code embodiedtherein for causing a computer to operate in accordance with a gamingsystem including:

-   -   a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for        display at a plurality of display positions on the display;

a display modifier arranged to modify the displayed symbols such thatafter modification of the symbols the locations of the symbols are amirror image of the locations of the symbols before modification of thesymbols; and

an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether symbol combinationsdefined by the displayed symbols after modification correspond to one ormore winning outcomes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the present invention will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of core components of a gamingsystem in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of functional components of a gamingsystem in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a gaming system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention with the gaming systemimplemented in the form of a stand alone gaming machine;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of operative components of thegaming machine shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of components of a memory of thegaming machine shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a gaming system in accordance with analternative embodiment of the present invention with the gaming systemimplemented over a network;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating game play of a gaming system inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b are diagrammatic representations of example symbolsdisplayed by a gaming system in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention during implementation of a game;

FIGS. 9 a and 9 b are diagrammatic representations of further examplesymbols displayed by a gaming system in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention during implementation of a game; and

FIGS. 10 a and 10 b are diagrammatic representations of further examplesymbols displayed by a gaming system in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention during implementation of a game.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofcertain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understoodwhen read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in thedrawings. It should be understood, however, that the present inventionis not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in theattached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a schematic block diagram of agaming system 10 arranged to implement a probabilistic game of the typewherein several symbols from a set of symbols are randomly displayed,and a game outcome is determined on the basis of the displayed symbols.With some such probabilistic games, the set of symbols include standardsymbols and function symbols, and the game outcome is determined on thebasis of the displayed standard symbols and the function associated withany displayed function symbol, based on a displayed specific pattern ofsymbols, or in any other way. For example, standard symbols may resemblefruit such as apples, pears and bananas with a win outcome beingdetermined when a predetermined number of the same fruit appear on adisplay in the same line, scattered, and so on. The function associatedwith a function symbol may be for example a wild function whereindisplay of the function symbol is treated during consideration of thegame outcome as any of the standard symbols. A function symbol may berepresented as the word “WILD”, a star, or by any other suitable word orsymbol. Other functions are also envisaged such as scatter functions,multiplier functions, repeat win functions, jackpot functions andfeature commencement functions.

The present gaming system operates such that winning combinations aredetermined on the basis of symbols appearing at display positions aftersymbol selection, and at least during a portion of a game implemented bythe gaming system, on the basis of symbols appearing at displaypositions after application of a display modification operation to thedisplayed symbols which causes the displayed symbols to move. Themovement is such that the new locations of the symbols are a mirrorimage of the locations of the symbols before movement. In this way, thelikelihood of a player achieving a winning outcome increases whilstmaintaining the same win entitlements, such as win lines, which havebeen purchased or otherwise obtained for the game. This in turn enablesa player cognisant of the available win entitlements for the game, suchas the available win line(s), to determine whether a win outcome hasoccurred without difficulty.

It will be understood that win outcomes may be determined on the basisof win entitlements which are predefined, or selected and in someembodiments purchased by a player, or selected according to game rules.Such selected win entitlements may include win lines, reels or symbolswhich are purchased by a player in order that the win lines, reels orsymbols may for the basis of evaluating win outcomes.

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of core components of a gamingsystem 10 is shown. The core components include a player interface 30and a game controller 32. The player interface 30 is arranged to enableinteraction between a player and the gaming system and for this purposeincludes input/output components for the player to enter instructionsand play the game.

Components of the player interface 30 may vary but will typicallyinclude a credit mechanism 34 to enable a player to input credits andreceive payouts, one or more displays 36 which may include a touchscreen, and a game play mechanism 38 arranged to enable a player toinput game play instructions.

The game controller 32 is in data communication with the playerinterface 30 and typically includes a processor 39 arranged to processgame play instructions and output game player outcomes to the display36. Typically, the game play instructions are stored as program code ina memory 42 that can also be hardwired. It will be understood that inthis specification the term “processor” is used to refer generically toany device that can process game play instructions and may include amicroprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or any othercomputational device such as a personal computer or a server.

A functional diagram illustrating operative components of the gamecontroller 32 is shown in FIG. 2.

The memory 42 is arranged to store symbols data 14 indicative of aplurality of symbols, in the present example associated with a pluralityof reels, function data 16 indicative of one or more functionsallocatable to the symbols, and game instruction data 18 indicative ofgame instructions usable by the gaming machine 10 to control operationof the game.

The game controller 32 includes a symbol selector 20 which is arrangedto select several symbols from the available symbols for display to aplayer in a plurality of display positions, in this example by spinningreels containing the symbols and stopping the reels so as to display atleast one symbol on each reel. In this example, the selection carriedout by the symbol selector 20 is made using a random number generator22.

It will be appreciated that the random number generator 22 may be of atype which is arranged to generate pseudo random numbers based on a seednumber, and that in this specification the term “random” will beunderstood accordingly to mean truly random or pseudo random.

With this embodiment, the game controller 32 also includes a triggerdeterminer 24 arranged to determine whether a trigger condition existsand to commence special game mode when a trigger condition has beendetected. Such a trigger condition may be display of a particular symbolor combination of symbols.

The trigger determiner 24 communicates with a display modifier 25arranged to control a display driver 27 to move displayed symbols when atrigger condition occurs such that the new display positions are amirror image of the previous display positions. In this way, thedisplayed symbols appear to flip, for example about a horizontal linepassing through the central line of symbols, or about a vertical linepassing through a third reel of a five reel configuration.

In this example, the game controller 32 also includes a functionallocator 26 arranged to select and allocate one or more functions toone or more symbols. Such functions include a wild function, a scatterfunction, or any other function which may be applied to a symbol or tothe game.

The game controller 32 also includes an outcome evaluator 28 which inaccordance with the game instructions 18 determines game outcomes basedon the symbols selected for display to the player by the symbol selector20, and during special game mode based on the symbols displayed afterthe displayed symbols have been flipped about a horizontal or verticalline.

In the embodiments described below, the symbol selector 20, the triggerdeterminer 24, the display modifier 25, the function allocator 26, andthe outcome evaluator 28 are at least partly implemented using theprocessor 39 and associated software, although it will be understoodthat other implementations are envisaged.

The gaming system 10 can take a number of different forms.

In a first form, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all ormost components for implementing the game are present in a playeroperable gaming machine.

In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some ofthe components for implementing the game are present in a playeroperable gaming machine and some of the components for implementing thegame are located remotely relative to the gaming machine. For example, a“thick client” architecture may be used wherein part of the game isexecuted on a player operable gaming machine and part of the game isexecuted remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a “thin client”architecture may be used wherein most of the game is executed remotelysuch as by a gaming server and a player operable gaming machine is usedonly to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the playerand receive gaming inputs from the player.

However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged.For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine isnetworked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gamingmachine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example,the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, “thickclient” mode or “thin client” mode depending on the game being played,operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent topersons skilled in the art.

A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine 40 isillustrated in FIG. 3. The gaming machine 40 includes a console 42having a display 44 on which is displayed representations of a game 46that can be played by a player. A mid-trim 50 of the gaming machine 40houses a bank of buttons 52 for enabling a player to interact with thegaming machine, in particular during gameplay. The mid-trim 50 alsohouses a credit input mechanism 54 which in this example includes a coininput chute 54A and a bill collector 54B. Other credit input mechanismsmay also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smartcard, debit card or credit card.

A top box 56 may carry artwork 58, including for example pay tables anddetails of bonus awards and other information or images relating to thegame. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a frontpanel 59 of the console 42. A coin tray 60 is mounted beneath the frontpanel 59 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 40.

The display 44 is in the form of a video display unit, particularly acathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, the display 44 may be aliquid crystal display, plasma screen, or any other suitable videodisplay unit. The top box 56 may also include a display, for example avideo display unit, which may be of the same type as the display 44, orof a different type. The display 44 may include a touch screen usable bya player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during gameplay.

The display 44 in this example is arranged to display representations ofseveral reels, each reel of which has several associated symbols.Typically 3, 4 or 5 reels are provided. During operation of the game,the reels first appear to rotate then stop with typically three symbolsvisible on each reel. Game outcomes are determined on the basis of thevisible symbols together with any special functions associated with thesymbols.

A player marketing module (PMM) 62 having a display 64 is connected tothe gaming machine 10. The main purpose of the PMM 62 is to allow theplayer to interact with a player loyalty system. The PMM has a magneticcard reader for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, forexample as part of a loyalty program. However other reading devices maybe employed and the player tracking device may be in the form of a card,flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being readby the reading device. In this example, the PMM 62 is a Sentinel IIIdevice produced by Aristocrat Technologies Pty Ltd.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of operative components of a gaming machine100 which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine shown inFIG. 3.

The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor102. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 102 inaccordance with the present invention are stored in a memory 103 whichis in data communication with the processor 102.

Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include both volatile andnon-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with suchmemories being collectively represented by the memory 103.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplarymemory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM 103A, EPROM 103B and a massstorage device 103C. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds programfiles for execution by the processor 102 and related data. The EPROM103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or gamerelated code. The mass storage device 103C is typically used to storegame programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/orauthenticated by the processor 102 using protected code from the EPROM103B or elsewhere.

The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes includingensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, aninput/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with a playerinterface 120 of the gaming machine 100, the player interface 120 havingseveral peripheral devices. The input/output interface 105 and/or theperipheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory forstoring associated instructions and data for use with the input/outputinterface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module113 generates random numbers for use by the processor 102.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the peripheral devices that communicatewith the game controller 101 include one or more displays 106, a touchscreen and/or bank of buttons 107, a card and/or ticket reader 108, aprinter 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism 110 and a coinoutput mechanism 111. Additional hardware may be included as part of thegaming machine 100, or hardware may be omitted based on the specificimplementation.

In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communicationsinterface, for example a network card 112. The network card may, forexample, send status information, accounting information or otherinformation to a central controller, server or database and receive dataor commands from the central controller, server or database.

It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine100 to be distributed, for example input/output devices106,107,108,109,110,111 may be provided remotely from the gamecontroller 101.

FIG. 6 shows a gaming system 200 in accordance with an alternativeembodiment. The gaming system 200 includes a network 201, which forexample may be an Ethernet network, a LAN or a WAN. In this example,three banks 203 of two gaming machines 202 are connected to the network201. The gaming machines 202 provide a player operable interface and maybe the same as the gaming machines 40,100 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, or mayhave simplified functionality depending on the requirements forimplementing game play. While banks 203 of two gaming machines areillustrated in FIG. 6, banks of one, three or more gaming machines arealso envisaged.

One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. Thedisplays 204 may, for example, be associated with one or more banks 203of gaming machines. The displays 204 may be used to displayrepresentations associated with game play on the gaming machines 202,and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional orinformational material.

In a thick client embodiment, a game server 205 implements part of thegame played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gamingmachine 202 implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as boththe game server 205 and the gaming machine 202 implement part of thegame, they collectively provide a game controller. A database managementserver 206 may manage storage of game programs and associated data fordownloading or access by the gaming devices 202 in a database 206A.Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in aJackpot game, a Jackpot server 207 will be provided to monitor and carryout the Jackpot game.

In a variation of the above thick client embodiment, the gaming machine202 may implement the game, with the game server 205 functioning merelyto serve data indicative of a game to the gaming machine 202 forimplementation.

With this implementation, a data signal containing a computer programusable by the client terminal to implement the gaming system may betransferred from the game server to the client terminal, for example inresponse to a request by the client terminal.

In a thin client embodiment, the game server 205 implements most or allof the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gamingmachine 202 essentially provides only the player interface. With thisembodiment, the game server 205 provides the game controller. The gamingmachine will receive player instructions, and pass the instructions tothe game server which will process them and return game play outcomes tothe gaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gamingmachines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software thatprovides a player interface operable using standard computer input andoutput components.

Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration ofthe gaming system 200, including for example a gaming floor managementserver 208 and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licensesrelating to particular games. An administrator terminal 210 is providedto allow an administrator to monitor the network 201 and the devicesconnected to the network.

The gaming system 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, otherlocal networks such as a corporate network, and/or a wide area networksuch as the Internet, for example through a firewall 211.

The gaming system 200 may also include a loyalty program server 212.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with knowntechniques, functionality at the server side of the network may bedistributed over a plurality of different computers. For example,elements may be run as a single “engine” on one server or a separateserver may be provided. For example, the game server 205 could run arandom number generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random numbergenerator server could be provided.

During operation, the game controller, whether implemented in a standalone gaming machine 10, 40, 100 or over a network 201, implements aprobabilistic game wherein at least during part of the game the gamingsystem modifies the positions of displayed symbols such that the symbolsappear to have been flipped about a horizontal or vertical line, andgame outcomes are determined on the basis of symbol combinationsdisplayed before and after modification of the displayed symbolpositions.

Examples of specific implementations of the gaming system will now bedescribed in relation to a stand alone gaming machine 10, 40, 100although it will be understood that implementation may also be carriedout using other gaming system architectures such as a networkarchitecture of the type shown in FIG. 6.

In this example, the gaming system is operable in normal game mode andspecial game mode and the gaming system includes five reels, each ofwhich has an associated set of symbols.

During normal game mode, the reels include standard symbols andoptionally one or more function symbols and win outcomes are determinedon the basis of the symbols visible at the display positions when thereels stop rotating.

Typically, a player will purchase or otherwise obtain win entitlementssuch as several win lines which are used in the game to determine winoutcomes. If the displayed symbols on the reels include symbolsassociated with a winning combination such as disposed on a win line,the player wins a prize.

During special game mode, the gaming system modifies the positions ofdisplayed symbols, for example such that the symbols appear to have beenflipped about a horizontal or vertical line. If the displayed symbols onthe reels have symbols associated with a winning combination such asdisposed on a win line after modification of the displayed symbolpositions, the player wins a prize.

The gaming system may be arranged to commence special game mode when apredetermined game outcome occurs, and special game mode may include oneor more free games. Special game mode may commence automatically on thebasis of a game event occurring during a game such as display of aparticular symbol, based on game outcomes determined by the gamingsystem, or may be prompted by a player pressing a button on the gamingsystem 10, 40, 100 after the player has identified that a game outcomecorresponding to special game mode requirements has occurred.

The gaming system 10, 40, 100 may also be arranged so as to determineeligibility for special game mode, for example based on the amount ortype of bet placed, based on certain time periods and so on.

Special game mode may also be arranged to commence when a special gameis purchased by a player.

A specific example will now be described in relation to flow diagram 250shown in FIG. 7 which illustrates steps 252 to 264 of a method of gamingimplemented by the gaming system according to the present embodiment.

In this example, five reels R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 are provided. The reelsare virtual reels and, as such, representations of the reels aredisplayed on a graphical display device 44.

During normal game mode, the reels R1 to R5 are spun and subsequentlystopped to display a symbol 290 at each display position 240. An examplescreen representation 300 shown on the display device 44 is shown inFIG. 8 a.

The outcome evaluator 28 determines whether the symbols 290 displayed atthe display positions 240 correspond to a winning outcome by referenceto the win lines available for the game.

As shown in FIG. 8 a, in the present example the displayed symbols donot correspond to a winning outcome since a winning combination ofsymbols is not present on any of the win lines available for the game.In particular, although a QUEEN symbol is displayed on each of thereels, the combination of QUEEN symbols displayed does not correspond toan available win line 302.

After commencement of special game mode, the positions of the displayedsymbols are modified so as to provide the appearance that the displayedsymbols have been flipped about a vertical line passing through thethird reel R3, and a screen representation 306 including the symbolsdisplayed after modification is shown in FIG. 8 b. It will be understoodthat operation is such that the symbols are flipped and not the winline.

An example win line 302, in this example purchased by a player, is shownin FIGS. 8 a and 8 b and it will be understood that before modificationof the symbol positions, the win line 302 does not correspond to awinning outcome. However, after modification of the symbol positions,five QUEEN symbols are present along the win line 302 which correspondsto a winning outcome.

In this example, in order to enhance the appearance that the symbolshave been flipped, the symbols may be laterally inverted as shown inFIG. 8 b.

A further example is shown in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b with two differentavailable win lines 308, 310 indicated. As with the example described inrelation to FIGS. 8 a and 8 b, the displayed symbols have been flippedabout a vertical line passing through the third reel R3. However, withthis example, it will be understood that a win outcome exists bothbefore and after modification of the symbol positions. In thissituation, the gaming system may be arranged to allocate a prize to aplayer for both outcomes.

A further example is shown in FIGS. 10 a and 10 b. In this example,during special game mode the displayed symbols have been flipped about ahorizontal line passing through the central positions on the reels R1,R2, R3, R4, R5. An example win line 312 purchased by a player is shownin FIGS. 10 a and 10 b and it will be understood that beforemodification of the symbol positions, the win line 312 does notcorrespond to a winning outcome. However, after modification of thesymbol positions, five QUEEN symbols are present along the win line 302which corresponds to a winning outcome.

In this example, in order to enhance the appearance that the symbolshave been flipped, the symbols may be shown upside down as shown in FIG.10 b

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addresseeare deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown inthe specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive. Several embodiments are described above with reference tothe drawings. These drawings illustrate certain details of specificembodiments that implement the systems and methods and programs of thepresent invention. However, describing the invention with drawingsshould not be construed as imposing on the invention any limitationsassociated with features shown in the drawings. The present inventioncontemplates methods, systems and program products on any electronicdevice and/or machine-readable media suitable for accomplishing itsoperations. Certain embodiments of the present invention may beimplemented using an existing computer processor and/or by a specialpurpose computer processor incorporated for this or another purpose orby a hardwired system, for example.

Embodiments within the scope of the present invention include programproducts comprising machine-readable media for carrying or havingmachine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Suchmachine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with aprocessor. By way of example, such machine-readable media may compriseRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, CD-ROM or other optical diskstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or anyother medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code inthe form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and whichcan be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer orother machine with a processor. When information is transferred orprovided over a network or another communications connection (eitherhardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to amachine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readablemedium. Thus, any such a connection is properly termed amachine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also includedwithin the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executableinstructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purposeprocessing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.

Method steps associated with certain embodiments may be implemented inone embodiment by a program product including machine-executableinstructions, such as program code, for example in the form of programmodules executed by machines in networked environments. Generally,program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Machine-executable instructions, associated datastructures, and program modules represent examples of program code forexecuting steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequenceof such executable instructions or associated data structures representsexamples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions describedin such steps.

1. A gaming system comprising: a processor and a memory arranged toprovide: a display modifier arranged to modify a plurality of symbolsarranged for display at a plurality of display positions on a displaysuch that after modification of the symbols the locations of the symbolsin the display positions are a mirror image of the locations of thesymbols before modification of the symbols; and an outcome evaluatorarranged to determine whether symbol combinations defined by thedisplayed symbols after modification correspond to one or more winningoutcomes.
 2. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a prizeallocator arranged to allocate a prize to a player when a symbolcombination corresponds to a winning outcome.
 3. A gaming system asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the outcome evaluator is arranged todetermine whether symbol combinations defined by the displayed symbolscorrespond to one or more winning outcomes by reference to a player winentitlement.
 4. A gaming system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the winentitlement is dependent on whether a player has purchased one or morewin lines, has purchased particular reels, or has purchased particularsymbols.
 5. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displaymodifier is arranged to modify the displayed symbols such that aftermodification of the symbols the locations of the symbols are a mirrorimage of the locations of the symbols before modification of the symbolsabout a line extending vertically of the displayed symbols.
 6. A gamingsystem as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display modifier is arrangedto modify the displayed symbols such that after modification of thesymbols the locations of the symbols are a mirror image of the locationsof the symbols before modification of the symbols about a line extendinghorizontally of the displayed symbols.
 7. A gaming system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the display modifier is arranged to modify thedisplayed symbols such that after modification the symbols are inverted.8. A gaming system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the display modifieris arranged to modify the displayed symbols such that after modificationthe symbols are shown laterally inverted.
 9. A gaming system as claimedin claim 7, wherein the display modifier is arranged to modify thedisplayed symbols such that after modification the symbols are shownupside down.
 10. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein theoutcome evaluator is arranged to determine whether symbol combinationsdefined by the displayed symbols correspond to one or more winningoutcomes both before and after modification of the displayed symbols,and the prize allocator is arranged to allocate a prize to a player whena symbol combination corresponds to a winning outcome before and/orafter modification of the symbols.
 11. A gaming system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein at least one set of symbols includes at least onefunction symbol having an associated function.
 12. A gaming system asclaimed in claim 11, wherein the function is a wild function, a scatterfunction, a multiplier function, a repeat win function or a jackpotfunction.
 13. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gamingsystem is arranged to operate in normal game mode and special game mode,and the display modifier is arranged to modify the displayed symbolsonly when the gaming system operates in special game mode.
 14. A gamingsystem as claimed in claim 13, wherein the gaming system is arranged tocommence special game mode when a predetermined game outcome occurs, onthe basis of a game event occurring during a game, in response to playerinput, based on the amount or type of bet placed, or when a special gameis purchased by a player.
 15. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1,wherein the gaming system is implemented as a stand alone gaming machineor across a network.
 16. A computer-implemented method of gamingcomprising: modifying, using a processor, a plurality of symbols fordisplay at a plurality of display positions such that after modificationof the symbols the locations of the symbols in the display positions area mirror image of the locations of the symbols before modification ofthe symbols; and determining, using a processor, whether symbolcombinations defined by the displayed symbols after modificationcorrespond to one or more winning outcomes.
 17. A method as claimed inclaim 16, comprising allocating a prize to a player when a symbolcombination corresponds to a winning outcome.
 18. A method as claimed inclaim 16, comprising determining whether symbol combinations defined bythe displayed symbols correspond to one or more winning outcomes byreference to a player win entitlement.
 19. A method as claimed in claim18, wherein the win entitlement is dependent on whether a player haspurchased one or more win lines, has purchased particular reels, or haspurchased particular symbols.
 20. A method as claimed in claim 16,comprising modifying the displayed symbols such that after modificationof the symbols the locations of the symbols are a mirror image of thelocations of the symbols before modification of the symbols about a lineextending vertically of the displayed symbols.
 21. A method as claimedin claim 16, comprising modifying the displayed symbols such that aftermodification of the symbols the locations of the symbols are a mirrorimage of the locations of the symbols before modification of the symbolsabout a line extending horizontally of the displayed symbols.
 22. Amethod as claimed in claim 16, comprising modifying the displayedsymbols such that after modification the symbols are inverted.
 23. Amethod as claimed in claim 22, comprising modifying the displayedsymbols such that after modification the symbols are shown laterallyinverted.
 24. A method as claimed in claim 22, comprising modifying thedisplayed symbols such that after modification the symbols are shownupside down.
 25. A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising determiningwhether symbol combinations defined by the displayed symbols correspondto one or more winning outcomes both before and after modification ofthe displayed symbols.
 26. A method as claimed in claim 16, comprisingallocating a function to at least one symbol.
 27. A method as claimed inclaim 26, wherein the function is a wild function, a scatter function, amultiplier function, a repeat win function or a jackpot function.
 28. Amethod as claimed in claim 16, comprising providing normal game mode andspecial game mode, and modifying the displayed symbols only when themethod operates in special game mode.
 29. A method as claimed in claim28, comprising commencing special game mode when a predetermined gameoutcome occurs, on the basis of a game event occurring during a game, inresponse to player input, based on the amount or type of bet placed, orwhen a special game is purchased by a player.
 30. A computer readablemedium having computer readable program code embodied therein forcausing a computer to implement a gaming system comprising: a symbolselector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display at aplurality of display positions on the display; a display modifierarranged to modify the displayed symbols such that after modification ofthe symbols the locations of the symbols in the display positions are amirror image of the locations of the symbols before modification of thesymbols; and an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether symbolcombinations defined by the displayed symbols after modificationcorrespond to one or more winning outcomes.
 31. A gaming controllerincluding a processor and a memory, the gaming controller including: adisplay modifier arranged to modify a plurality of symbols arranged fordisplay at a plurality of display positions on a display such that aftermodification of the symbols the locations of the symbols in the displaypositions are a mirror image of the locations of the symbols beforemodification of the symbols; and an outcome evaluator arranged todetermine whether symbol combinations defined by the displayed symbolsafter modification correspond to one or more winning outcomes.